Today in History: Mary Church Terrell

Today in History: Mary Church Terrell

Today in History–September 23–the Library of Congress features Mary Church Terrell, born on this day in 1863. One of the first African American women to graduate from college, Terrell worked as an educator, political activist, and first president of the National Association of Colored Women. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section and clicking the links below. Mary Church Terrell primary source set Mary…

Today in History: The Stono Rebellion

Today in History: The Stono Rebellion

Today in History–September 9–the Library of Congress features the Stono Rebellion—the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies prior to the American Revolution—which occurred on this day in 1739. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more slave insurrection primary sources and other resources related to slavery in the United States. A…

Today in History: Phillis Wheatley

Today in History: Phillis Wheatley

Today in History–September 1–the Library of Congress features poet Phillis Wheatley, whose book of poetry (the first of any African American) was published in London, England on this day in 1773. Read what praise Wheatley received from George Washington and others by visiting the Today in History section.  For more poetry resources, check out the Primary Source Nexus posts…

Learning from the Source: Ballad of Booker T.

Learning from the Source: Ballad of Booker T.

Access the four drafts and the final version of Langston Hughes’s poem “Ballad of Booker T.” from the Library of Congress. For ideas on helping students to follow the poet’s creative process, check out the Teaching with the Library of Congress blog’s teaching ideas for using the marked-up drafts and final copy of Hughes’ poem “Ballad of Booker T.”…

Primary Source Learning: Sheet Music Collections & Teaching Resources

Primary Source Learning: Sheet Music Collections & Teaching Resources

Using Sheet Music to Bring History to Life Teaching with the Library: Primary Sources & Ideas for Educators Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Music guiding questions for analyzing sheet music and song recordings Tech Tool: Sheet Music Scanner America Singing: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets | Resources for Teachers Baseball Sheet Music | Teaching Resources Civil…

Learning from the Source: Amateur Night at the Apollo & Race Relations

Learning from the Source: Amateur Night at the Apollo & Race Relations

Read an oral history excerpt or the full oral history account by an audience member who attended amateur night at the Apollo Theater in November, 1938. In this account from American Life Histories, 1936-1940, Federal Writer Dorothy West describes an event that happened [there]. What does this event suggest about race relations in the late 1930s?…

Today in History: James Baldwin

Today in History: James Baldwin

Today in History–August 2–the Library of Congress features novelist, essayist, and playwright James Baldwin, born on this day in 1924. Influenced by a teacher—poet and Harlem Renaissance leader Countee Cullen—Baldwin went on to earn his own place in literary history. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access some of the Library’s top literary treasures….

Today in History: Orson Welles’ First Macbeth

Today in History: Orson Welles’ First Macbeth

Today in History–July 25–the Library of Congress features Macbeth,  “The Play That Electrified Harlem“. The closing night performance of Macbeth, produced by John Houseman and directed by Orson Welles for the Federal Theatre Project (FTP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), was staged on July 25, 1936 and featured an all African-American cast. Find out more about this production by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the…

Today in History: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Today in History: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Today in History–June 27–the Library of Congress features the multifaceted artist Paul Laurence Dunbar, born on this day in 1872. Dunbar produced a lot in his short life–he died at age 33–achieving international acclaim as a poet, short story writer, novelist, dramatist, and lyricist. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to…